A Connecticut mother is holding state child welfare officials accountable after her seven-month-old son was murdered in 2015, arguing the Department of Children and Families ignored her warnings and failed to protect her baby despite knowing the father posed a deadly threat.

Convicted Killer Maintains Innocence From Prison

Tony Moreno, serving 70 years for murdering his infant son Aaden by throwing him off the Arrigoni Bridge, testified Thursday in a civil case against DCF. From his prison cell, Moreno denied any history of abuse and dismissed his criminal conviction as illegitimate. He told the courtroom he was never violent and claimed the trial was rigged, saying prosecutors would have convicted a sandwich. The state declined to cross-examine him.

Moreno acknowledged at least one phone call with DCF but claimed he could not recall specific details about whether social workers asked about threats against his son. He denied making any threats despite testimony from the child’s mother contradicting his account. DCF had contact with the family before Aaden’s death but maintained they followed proper protocols during their investigation.

Mother Warned Agency Father Threatened to Kill Baby

Adrianne Oyola, Aaden’s mother, delivered emotional testimony describing a pattern of threats Tony Moreno made against her and their infant son. She told the court Moreno repeatedly threatened to get rid of both her and Aaden. Those concerns prompted her to obtain a restraining order against him. However, she testified that DCF took no significant action after she raised immediate safety concerns about her baby.

The restraining order eventually lapsed, allowing Tony Moreno to take custody of Aaden on July 3, 2015. Two days later, the seven-month-old was dead. Oyola remembered her son during testimony, saying he was taken too soon and would likely have become an amazing child. Her lawsuit argues DCF’s negligence directly led to her baby’s murder.

State Defends Agency Actions Despite Fatal Outcome

Connecticut officials maintain that DCF followed established protocols and that their investigation remained active when Aaden was killed. State attorneys argued social workers did not consider Tony Moreno a significant risk to the infant before granting him custody. The civil case centers on whether the agency met its duty to protect a vulnerable child despite clear warnings from the mother about potential violence. The outcome could establish precedent for holding child welfare agencies accountable when children die under their supervision.